Foot-lever for the cutter-bars of mowers



(No Model.)

L. L. FOLSO Eoo'r LEvEE EOE THE CUTTER B OF MOWBRS.

No. 482,347. Patented Sept. 13, 1892.

wihyzsses 1 9E 16, Lew/e25 L. Ihlsom A By his eAfirgeys? m-zns cm, mom-mum, men

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEwIs LEE EoLsoM, or STONE HOUSE, NEVADA.

FOOT-LEVER FOR THE CUTTER-BARS OF MOWERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 482,347, dated September 13, 1892.

Application filed February 8, 1392. Serial No. 420,712. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS LEE FoLsoM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stone House, in the county of Humboldt and State of Nevada, have invented a new and useful Foot-Lever for Gutter-Bars, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to harvesters, and more especially to the cutting apparatus thereof; and the object of the same is to provlde an improved foot-lever for adjusting the angle of or for bodily raising the cutter-bar.

To this end the invention consists in a device of substantially the construction hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and as illustrated on the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a right-side elevation of a portion of the tongue of a harvester-machine with my improved device in position thereon and showing the operating-chain depending from such device to the cutter-bar. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of this device with the lever raised and the spring-casing partly broken away. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective of the foot-lever and the bell-crank lever.

In the said drawings, T is the tongue and O the cutting apparatus of a mowing-machine of any approved pattern. Bolted on said tongue is a base-plate B, from whose right edge rises an upright U, having a toothed segment T at its upper edge.

G is a large gear pivoted to the rightside of the upright, and cast integral with and projecting radially from this gear is an arm A, carrying the foot-plate F. g is a smaller gear, also pivoted to the upright and meshing with the large gear, this small gear having a grooved hub H, over which passes a chain 0, that leads down to the cutting apparatus, the chain being led to the front around and over the hub H, so that when the latter is turned to the rear the chain'will be drawn on and the cutting apparatus will be raised, as will be clear. Beneath the foot-plate stands a transverse casing K, within which is located an expansible spring S, which bears a pin P normally to the left, through the arm A and into engagement with the notch between two of the teeth T. A rod It leads from the pin through the spring and out the other end of the casing, and is hooked, as shown at r, and L is an L-shaped lever pivoted at its angle in supports f, rising from the foot-plate, its outer depending end engaging with said hook and its inner end standing over the base of the foot-plate. The whole device is of metal of proper size and strength to withstand the strain incident to its use.

In operation, when the driver desires to raise the cutting apparatus, he puts his foot on the foot-plate, at which time his heel engages the inner end of the lever L. Applying pressure thereto, the lever draws the pin P out of the notch, which is engaged, after which further pressure on the foot plate bears it down and turns the gear G forward, thereby turning the gear 9 rearward and drawing on the chain 0', as will be clear. To permit the cutting apparatus to descend, the driver trips the lever L in the same manner, and then permits the plate F to rise slowly, re-engaging the pin with the teeth at the point desired. The entire device is simple and inexpensive, and can be operated by the drivers foot while his hands are otherwise employed.

What is claimed as new is 1. A foot-lever for harvesters, comprising a base having an upright with a toothed segment, large and small intermeshing gears pivoted on the upright, the small gear being connected with the cutting apparatus, an arm projecting radially from the large gear and carrying a foot-plate, a spring-actuated pin connected to the arm and normally engaging said toothed segment, and an L-shaped lever pivotally connected at its angle with the plate, one arm being connected with said pin and the other arm standing over the plate, substantially as described.

2. A foot-lever for harvesters, comprising a base having an upright with a toothed segment, large and small intermeshing gears pivoted on the upright, the small gear having a grooved hub, a chain passing around said hub to the cutting apparatus, an arm projecting radially from the large gear and carrying a foot-plate, a transverse casing beneath the foot-plate, a pin in the casing, a

spring also therein forcing the pin into engagement with said rack-bar, a support on the foot-plate, a bell-crank lever pivoted at its angle to said support with its inner arm standing above the foot-plate, and a rod connected tethe outer arm thereof and leading through the spring to said pin, substantially as hereinbefore described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in 10 the presence of two witnesses.

LEWIS LEE FOLSOM. Witnesses:

STEWARD LEWIS COHOON, JOSEPH DURANG. 

